AEW To Sign Two Former WWE Stars? Swagger Admits Possibility

The emergence of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has begun to pose a threat to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in that the athletes now have an option to choose between two promotions to earn a handsome paycheck and perform in front of big audiences.

The WWE will continue to remain the world’s most popular pro-wrestling promotion and AEW is unlikely to threaten their dominance in terms of global audiences, but are being genuinely considered a threat to their dominance in North America.

AEW has already made waves before even hosting their first show – Double or Nothing – which takes place in Las Vegas in May. They sold out the entire MGM Grand Arena in minutes after the tickets went on sale and have attracted some top pro-wrestlers including WWE legend Chris Jericho to sign with the promotion.

Tony Khan, the founder of AEW, is the son of Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan, who owns the NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars. They have deep pockets and are prepared to match or beat any offer the WWE is making to wrestlers on their roster.

Jericho labeled his deal with AEW as the best of his career, which has made other pro-wrestlers sit up and take notice. AJ Styles, one of WWE’s biggest stars, is nearing the end of his contract and is yet to sign a new deal and is likely to consider what AEW puts on the table before making a decision.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via 411Mania, has shed further light on how wrestlers nearing the end of their contracts with the WWE are in no hurry to sign new deals. They are said to be keen to wait and assess the market situation before making any decision on their futures.

Tag team duo Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are said to have rejected the first offer from WWE to extend their stay, and they are said to be prepared to wait until September when they will be out of contracts to make a decision on their next destination.

Jack Swagger, formerly of WWE, admits that AEW’s emergence will surely make WWE step up their act and offer a better product in terms of programming and storylines. He has been performing in the indie scene and competing in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) with Bellator.

"It's a very exciting time. Not since I was in seventh grade have pro wrestlers had other options," Swagger said, as quoted on Wrestling Inc. "No disrespect to wrestlers who went to Impact/TNA but as far as supplementing your income and a paycheck you can rely on, they weren't that.”

"It's very exciting to see that there is so much life, not that there is no life outside of WWE. There is so much life outside of WWE. I think that's gonna make WWE step up their game, their programming, their storylines and wrestlers are definitely gonna respond to that backstage. I think it's gonna be awesome. Does AEW need to compete with WWE? No, but they just need to be a great place to come wrestle and to come to watch wrestling,” he added.

Swagger also praised Arn Anderson, a WWE Hall of Famer, who was part of the famed Four Horsemen group alongside Ric Flair. After his retirement from wrestling, he was working as a producer with the WWE until he was let go earlier this year.

Swagger praised the former WWE producer and admitted that there is a high possibility that he could join AEW in the coming months. The newly formed promotion is certainly ensuring that they leave no stone unturned when it comes to hiring talent with pro-wrestling experience.

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